Increasing Counseling Activities

Oct 13, 2025 by thesweetdesigns.com 35 views

Introduction

The maternal mortality rate (MMR) is a crucial indicator in assessing public health, and Indonesia is still struggling to reduce this rate. One of the main causes of high MMR in Indonesia is the low rate of antenatal care (ANC) visits by pregnant women. The Profile of the Maga Health Center shows that the scope of the first ANC (K1) visit has reached 90%, but the scope of the fourth ANC visit (K4) in 2018 is only 48.16%. This indicates that the scope of K4 in the working area of the Maga Health Center is still far from the expected target.

Background

The importance of ANC visits cannot be overstated. Regular ANC visits can help identify potential health problems during pregnancy, and early intervention can prevent complications and improve maternal and child health outcomes. However, many pregnant women in Indonesia do not make regular ANC visits, which contributes to the high MMR.

Research Methodology

This study uses an analytic approach with a cross-sectional design to examine the relationship between independent and dependent variables. The aim is to identify factors related to mothers' conduct of ANC visits in the working area of the Maga Health Center, Lembah Sorik Marapi District, Mandailing Natal Regency in 2020.

Population and Sample

The population of this study is all pregnant women with 0-6 months of gestation in the working area of the Maga Health Center. The research sample consisted of 76 mothers, randomly selected. Data was collected through direct interviews using a questionnaire.

Results

The results showed that of the 76 mothers studied, only 33 people had regular ANC visits according to standards. The Chi-Square test shows a significant relationship (p = 0.036 <0.05) between parity variables (the number of children who have been born) with the variables of ANC pregnancy visits. This means that the more children who have been born by a mother, the lower the possibility of her making an ANC visit regularly.

Discussion

This finding highlights the need for efforts to increase awareness and motivation of pregnant women in making ANC visits. Some things that can be done include:

Increasing Counseling Activities

Increasing counseling activities about the importance of ANC visits and the benefits of ANC examination can be done through various media, such as group meetings, counseling in Posyandu, or social media. This can help pregnant women understand the importance of ANC visits and motivate them to make regular visits.

Increasing Cross-Sectoral Roles

Increasing cross-sectoral roles such as the Health Office and the Mandailing Natal Regency Government in improving access roads to health facilities can make it easier for pregnant women to reach health facilities and make ANC visits.

Strengthening Support Programs

Strengthening support programs for pregnant women through health workers such as village midwives or health cadres can provide assistance, counseling, and emotional support for pregnant women during pregnancy.

Improving Quality of ANC Services

Improving the quality of ANC services at the Maga Health Center can make pregnant women feel comfortable and motivated to make regular visits.

Conclusion

Increased ANC visit is an important effort in improving maternal and child health. By understanding the factors related to ANC visits, it is expected to be implemented an appropriate and effective intervention program to increase the scope of ANC visits and reduce maternal mortality in the working area of the Maga Health Center.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

The Health Office and the Mandailing Natal Regency Government should increase counseling activities about the importance of ANC visits and the benefits of ANC examination.
The Health Office and the Mandailing Natal Regency Government should improve access roads to health facilities to make it easier for pregnant women to reach health facilities and make ANC visits.
The Maga Health Center should strengthen support programs for pregnant women through health workers such as village midwives or health cadres.
The Maga Health Center should improve the quality of ANC services to make pregnant women feel comfortable and motivated to make regular visits.

By implementing these recommendations, it is expected that the scope of ANC visits will increase, and maternal mortality will decrease in the working area of the Maga Health Center.

Q: What is the maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Indonesia?

A: The maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Indonesia is still high, and one of the causes is the low antenatal care (ANC) visit by pregnant women.

Q: What is the scope of the first ANC (K1) visit in the working area of the Maga Health Center?

A: The scope of the first ANC (K1) visit in the working area of the Maga Health Center has reached 90%.

Q: What is the scope of the fourth ANC visit (K4) in 2018 in the working area of the Maga Health Center?

A: The scope of the fourth ANC visit (K4) in 2018 in the working area of the Maga Health Center is only 48.16%.

Q: What is the relationship between parity variables (the number of children who have been born) with the variables of ANC pregnancy visits?

A: The Chi-Square test shows a significant relationship (p = 0.036 <0.05) between parity variables (the number of children who have been born) with the variables of ANC pregnancy visits. This means that the more children who have been born by a mother, the lower the possibility of her making an ANC visit regularly.

Q: What are some things that can be done to increase awareness and motivation of pregnant women in making ANC visits?

A: Some things that can be done include:

Increasing counseling activities about the importance of ANC visits and the benefits of ANC examination.
Increasing cross-sectoral roles such as the Health Office and the Mandailing Natal Regency Government in improving access roads to health facilities.
Strengthening support programs for pregnant women through health workers such as village midwives or health cadres.
Improving the quality of ANC services at the Maga Health Center.

Q: Why is it important to increase ANC visits?

A: Increased ANC visit is an important effort in improving maternal and child health. By understanding the factors related to ANC visits, it is expected to be implemented an appropriate and effective intervention program to increase the scope of ANC visits and reduce maternal mortality in the working area of the Maga Health Center.

Q: What are some recommendations to increase ANC visits?

A: Some recommendations to increase ANC visits include:

The Health Office and the Mandailing Natal Regency Government should increase counseling activities about the importance of ANC visits and the benefits of ANC examination.
The Health Office and the Mandailing Natal Regency Government should improve access roads to health facilities to make it easier for pregnant women to reach health facilities and make ANC visits.
The Maga Health Center should strengthen support programs for pregnant women through health workers such as village midwives or health cadres.
The Maga Health Center should improve the quality of ANC services to make pregnant women feel comfortable and motivated to make regular visits.

Q: What is the expected outcome of increasing ANC visits?

A: The expected outcome of increasing ANC visits is to reduce maternal mortality in the working area of the Maga Health Center.

Q: Who can benefit from this study?

A: Pregnant women, health workers, and policymakers can benefit from this study as it provides insights into the factors related to ANC visits and recommendations to increase ANC visits.

Q: What is the significance of this study?

A: This study is significant as it highlights the importance of ANC visits in improving maternal and child health and provides recommendations to increase ANC visits in the working area of the Maga Health Center.